The incumbent serves as the Outreach Coordinator and Deputy Public Affairs Officer (PAO) for the VA New Jersey Health Care System (VANJHCS). The incumbent is responsible for the development, management and direction of the VANJHCS outreach program. This includes oversight and coordination of all written and exhibit materials that reflect VANJHCS in an accurate manner and further the mission of VHA.

Duties

The incumbent is responsible for oversight of the VANJHCS Public Affairs program in absence of the PAO. The incumbent will supervise (1) Outreach Specialist (GS-9), (1) Public Affairs Specialist (GS-9) and (1) Visual Information Specialist (GS 9).This position is located in the Office of the Director and is under the direct supervision of the Public Affairs Officer. Development and Implementation of Outreach Programs The incumbent plans the development and implementation of all outreach programs and activities that are appropriate for expanding the patient base of the VANJHCS and increasing the number of Veterans who receive care at VANJHCS and its CBOCs. Incumbent works closely with Public Affairs, clinical service lines, Homeless Program staff, M2VA (formerly OIF/ OEF), Suicide Prevention, Veterans Justice Outreach, and War-Related Injury and Illness Study Center (WRIISC) program staff and other departments to enhance outreach methods to maximize the growth potential of VANJHCS. Incumbent develops and attends public involvement events that target concerned communities, establishes methods for reaching and eliciting input from targeted communities. Utilization of analytical techniques to evaluate input and public comments regarding program issues. Incumbent will collect, summarize and analyze public sentiment to develop recommendations for program improvements. Incumbent has the ability to communicate effectively with diverse Veteran audiences about VA Health Care; works diplomatically with internal and external constituents; applies problem- solving techniques; conducts research; plans community events; produces professional written and oral presentations; maintains confidentiality of information; keeps abreast of emerging issues which impact the VANJHCS; meets critical deadlines and works flexible hours. Chairs the VANJHCS Outreach Committee and establishes, maintains, and updates a facility outreach plan and calendar. Vesting and Program Management Actively facilitates Veteran enrollment and coordinates vesting with local clinical and administrative entities. Develops, coordinates, oversees a case management approach to new patient recruitment and enrollment that emphasizes Veteran knowledge of VHA benefits and processes, assists individual Veterans through the application, enrollment and vesting processes, and facilitates their assignment to the appropriate care team and completion of their first VA Health Care appointment. Data Analyzing and Budget The incumbent will prepare monthly reports indicating number of new enrollees and eligibility categories, number of outreach events attended, and event/marketing costs. The incumbent will evaluate the return on investment by analyzing outreach costs and number of new enrollees vested at outreach events. Market penetration data is analyzed to achieve the yearly VANJHCS growth goal. Determines outreach budgetary needs by reviewing historical records, performing supply usage studies, analyzing current workload, reviewing inflation trends and other market factors. Incumbent will analyze and prepare yearly budget requests. Develops contingency plans to minimize the effect of any cuts to the outreach budget. Develops and implements cost savings and cost containment initiatives. Public Affairs Support Supports the Public Affairs staff by acting as the facility Deputy Public Affairs Officer, participating in public affairs and communication activities such as generating media interest and coordinating agency information in support of outreach and VANJHCS programs and services. Uses a variety of communication techniques and methods including print, broadcast, radio, social media, and Internet-based media to convey the VA mission and outreach efforts. This includes oversight and coordination of all written and exhibit materials that reflect the VANJHCS in an accurate manner and further the mission of VHA. Incumbent also produces written materials that transmit information concerning the nature and purpose of various outreach activities and VANJHCS programs, activities and projects to the public. Promotion Potential: Position is GS-11 level with promotion potential to the GS-12. The position will be filled at the GS-11 level only. Noncompetitive promotion to the next grade level (GS-12) will be authorized; pending time in grade requirements and demonstrated ability to perform at the next higher/target level grade duties Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: PD10623O Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/08/2024. Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-11 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-9. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience GS-11: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level, GS-9 in the Federal Service. To be creditable, this experience must be directly related to the work of the position and has equipped you with the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully perform the duties as a Program Specialist (Outreach Coordinator/Deputy Public Affairs Officer). Qualifying specialized experience includes: Knowledge of written and oral communication principles and techniques, analytical methods, and interpersonal relations practices; ability to draw accurate conclusions and offer meaningful recommendations in improving aspects of information materials; working with others in achieving mutually beneficial objectives; comfort and skill clearly conveying detailed oral and written program information in a variety of formats; and gathering and reporting public reaction to information programs. Skill in producing innovative written materials and in making clear oral presentations. Skill in approaching individuals in order to obtain information and develop rapport. The ability to comprehend and explain numerous complex government laws, directives, and policies is required in order to provide information to individuals of different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. A comprehensive knowledge of and ability to interpret the various DoD Military Discharge Certificates, identification cards and DD214's to determine Veterans' eligibility entitlements to VA benefits as per Public Law 104-262, where the establishment of 8 Priority Groups has been initiated to substantiate the level of priority for Veteran enrollment. Knowledge of potential barriers to benefits in order to determine when a Veteran is not eligible for VA care. Knowledge of the current application and interpretation of the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, and HIPAA. Knowledge of public relations, community relations, advertising, and journalism including media technical requirements and practices. Skill in developing information programs tailored to audiences and realistic conditions to improve public understanding. NOTE: Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have successfully completed a Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree, or 3 full years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to such a degree, or an LL.M. if related (Transcripts required). OR, Combination: Applicants may also combine education and experience to qualify at this level. You must have equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (in excess of the first two graduate years or 36 semester hours) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements. NOTE: If using education combined with specialized experience to qualify, a copy of your transcript is required. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is at the GS-11. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: CommunicationsPartneringPlanning and EvaluatingSystems Thinking Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: Assignments regularly involve extended periods of walking, standing, bending, and stooping to execute logistics for outreach events. Incumbent is also required to pick up loads of 15 pounds such as boxes of promotional outreach materials and other literature and to push carts of supplies. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education for the GS-11 grade level.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address VA New Jersey Health Care System 385 Tremont Avenue East Orange, NJ 07018 US
• Name: Kelli Bencic
• Phone: 716-458-6982
• Email: [email protected]